Hepatitis B Viral Markers in the Human Milk of HBsAg-Positive Mothers: An Observational Study

Background: Quantification of viral antigens and viral loads in human milk samples from mothers infected with hepatitis B virus is largely unknown. Research Aim: The aim of the study was to quantitatively measure the levels of viral antigens and deoxyribonucleic acid of hepatitis B virus in human milk from mothers infected with hepatitis B virus. Methods: Fifty-five pairs of milk and serum samples from mothers with positive hepatitis B surface antigen, including 11 hepatitis B e antigen positive, were quantitatively tested to measure viral antigens by microparticle enzyme immunoassay and viral loads by real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. Results: The median level of hepatitis B surface antigen in the human milk samples of mothers with positive or negative hepatitis B e antigen was each lower than that in the sera, respectively (1.10 vs. 4.32 log(10) IU/ml, t = 10.693, p < .001; -0.77 vs. 2.53 log(10) IU/ml, t = -25.135, p < .001). The titers of hepatitis B surface antigen or hepatitis B e antigen in the human milk samples were each correlated with that in maternal serum. The detectable level of deoxyribonucleic acid of hepatitis B virus in human milk ranged from 1.42-5.27 log(10) IU/ml, whereas that in maternal sera was 1.44-8.66 log(10) IU/ml. The viral level in human milk was not correlated with that in maternal circulation. Conclusion: The present study data illustrate the relatively low titers of viral markers in the milk of mothers with positive hepatitis B surface antigen.